By Gloria Drealomalicha
A 22-year-old New Mexico man has been arrested and charged with an open count of murder after allegedly shooting his 25-year-old cousin following an argument over whose green chile enchiladas were spicier.
Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez was arrested after the shooting of Nathaniel Cavazos in Albuquerque on August 27.
According to a police affidavit, officers were called to an apartment complex shortly before 11pm following reports of gunfire. Cavazos was found unresponsive on a walkway outside the complex with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness, who was a cousin of both men, told investigators that the group had spent the afternoon drinking alcohol and preparing green chile enchiladas.
The disagreement reportedly began during dinner when Gutierrez claimed the chilli on his plate was hotter than the one served to Cavazos. Cavazos allegedly disagreed, arguing that the enchiladas had been prepared together and should therefore have the same level of heat.
What began as an argument later escalated outside the apartment, where the two men became involved in a physical confrontation.
The witness told police that Cavazos punched Gutierrez, causing him to bleed.
Authorities allege that Gutierrez then shot Cavazos three or four times in the back from a distance of about 10 feet. Investigators said Cavazos was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Gutierrez allegedly fled the scene after the incident.
Police later recovered a handgun belonging to Cavazos about 10 yards from his body. However, witnesses reportedly told investigators that Cavazos had not drawn the weapon during the confrontation.
Gutierrez surrendered to police in downtown Albuquerque the following day.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against Gutierrez have not been proven in court.
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